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Tualatin Tomorrow visioning project continues with update event May 8

TUALATIN - A concern expressed in the early stages of the Tualatin Tomorrow visioning project was that it would end up like many city reports - stuffed in a binder gathering dust on a city employee's bookshelf.

But almost a year after finalizing a visioning plan, the Tualatin Tomorrow visioning group, made up of volunteers, still has enough energy and dedication that even Tualatin Mayor Lou Ogden is impressed.

The visioning project began as a way to set a plan for the city - a plan consisting of goals that the city and community partners could work together on to accomplish over the next 20 years.

Well the goals were set, agreements were made with partners and about a year later things are happening, said Frank Bubenik, co-chairman of the Tualatin Tomorrow Vision Implementation Committee.

The event is designed to give people an understanding of what's been accomplished in the past year, Bubenik said.

But the major concern of the event is to let the community know that the visioning is continuing, Bubenik said, and to let people know what has been accomplished.

One of the biggest action items to be tackled so far from the visioning plan is the initiative to create a community center. Support expressed by residents who participated in the formulation of the plan has led city officials to explore pursuing a bond measure for a recreation center.

The visioning event will include a table for each of the six focus areas of the visioning project: 1) Traffic, transportation and connectivity; 2) Health, safety, and social services; 3) Growth, housing and town center; 4) Governance, leadership and community; 5) Arts, culture, education, youth and family activities; and 6) Parks, recreation and natural areas.

Each table will have the community implementation partners (local businesses or organizations that have committed to helping accomplish the goals set forth in each focus area) available to discuss the goals and to discuss issues that still need to be addressed by the plan.